First Grade to Preteen, Fruit of the Spirit

1.

When teaching to ages 4-12 about the Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians, have two artificial trees. Leave one bare. Put white Christmas lights on the other, the tree that bears good fruit. Draw on colored paper a fruit to represent each. EX: on red construction paper draw and cut out apples which would represent “Kindness.” Make a color/fruit chart to hang next to the tree. Use a hole punch to make a hole in each piece of paper fruit, use large colored paper clips to hang the fruit. As each child tells of something they did at home or school to demonstrate a fruit of the Spirit or as they are observed doing so in class or VBS, let them select that fruit, write their name on it and let them hang it on the tree. If used at VBS, at the end of the week they can see how much good fruit was produced! The other tree will be void of life, dark and produces no good fruit. If you have an open house following VBS, the parents, church members and visitors can visibly see the lessons their children learned. It is also a good reminder for all of us to produce good fruit.

(Special Thanks to Sandra Marcum, Bethesda Ministries, Richmond Indiana for this great idea)